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Article #90: Collecting Unique Musical Instruments

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Most people that do a significant amount squeezed together to change the tone of
of travel have a house that looks like a the note. It is typically used for
museum. If you are thinking of bringing rhythm. This intrument is from Bengal.
back souvenirs on a theme, I would Another unique string instrument is the
encourage you to think about collecting Veena from southern India. This
musical instruments. instrument has resonance chambers at each
Those of us in western civilizations are end. The Veena (also called Vina) is
accustomed to a large variety of somewhat like a lute and has a sound like
instruments. However, there are many a very mellow sitar.
types of instruments that you will never There is one type of instrument that you
see in any orchestra. They are, however, may already have and not realize it. That
worth your consideration, both for their is the rain stick. It is made of a hollow
uniqueness of structure, but of sound. tube of wood - often bamboo - with beeds
One of the things that I really wanted to or seeds in it. You tip it back and forth
do in Borneo was bring home a number of to make a soothing sound.
the stringed instruments that I saw in Another type of instrument that is
the shops of Kuching, Sarawak - the sape. commonly taken home without thinking of
But, I did not have enough money at the it as being a musical instrument is the
time.The sape or sapeh is a guitar type thumb piano or kalimba. These strange
instrument shaped somewhat more like a instruments are made by attaching strips
lute. It normally has four strings, but of metal into a sounding board. These are
occaisionally has 3 or 5. then plucked in a downward motion of the
Several of the tribes in Borneo use this thumb to make a tone. They are different
instrument. I saw one man in the Sarawak sizes so that a melody can be played.
Cultural Village that made them. He gave Something that I've tried to play a
us a short concert that was simply couple of times is the didgeridoo. I
enchanting.The sound that was much more would love to become adept at playing
common in our travels in Sarawak was the this unique instrument. It is basically
combination of brass gongs and drums. The just a tube that the Australian
gongs are sold by Chinese traders up and aborigines use to produce a delightfully
down the rivers and so at least one set soulful sound by blowing in it. This one
is found in every longhouse. A set of definitely goes in the rhythm section
these gongs would be a good addition to because there is not really any tune
any musical instrument collection. possible.
Musical instruments are typically found Drums come in all shapes and sizes and
in three different groups - string, wind, make noise in more ways than you can
and percussion. They can be further imagine. You could make a very
divided by the type of material they are interesting collection just of these
made of and whether they are designed to instruments.
play melody or for rhythm. You may not decide to make a large
One unique string instrument that would collection of unique musical instruments,
make a great collectors item would be the but you should definitely put them on
gopichand. This unique instrument has a your list of things to consider bringing
single string and it is held tight by two home.
strips of bamboo. The bamboo is then






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